Camera Workers: The British Columbia Photographers Directory 1858-1900

Ashley Thomson is a full librarian at Laurentian University and co-editor or co-author of nine books, most recently Margaret Atwood: A Reference Guide, 1988-2005.

I have long had a desire to compile a bibliography of nineteenth century Irish poetry that contained references to bumblebees, but hitherto, I have been dissuaded by friends who considered the project too esoteric. Well, if his list of acknowledgments is any indication, David Mattison, currently employed by the Public Archives of British Columbia, suffers no shortage of supportive friends, and the result is before us.

What the book contains is a list of photographers (and studios) who worked in B.C. in the nineteenth century. Also included are visiting photographers (such as Franz Boas, the famous anthropologist) as well as members of the entourage of various governors-general who brought along their Kodaks for use when the G.G. was off performing official duties.

Mattison’s directory, organized alphabetically by name, includes where available such biographical data about the photographers as life dates, birth-place, place of death, where active, business address, home address, time span when active in the province, status (amateur, professional, etc.), a biographical summary, where his/her collections are located, any identifying marks on photos, and sources for further information.

Moreover, the book contains two bibliographies, one of photographers’ papers, the other of published and unpublished material on the subject (including seven articles Mattison himself has written). The book also includes special categories (e.g., women), dates when the photographers were active, and, the longest by far, the geographical locations in which photographers worked.

As a reference work, Camera Workers’ is intelligent in organization and meticulous in detail. It will be invaluable to those persons, no doubt small in number, involved in analyzing photographs of the era covered. Indeed, the book’s only serious flaw is its format. The copy I received was literally falling apart at the seams, the bottom third having become detached from top, thanks to the inadequacy of the binding. In the sequel, which Mattison promises will cover the years 1900-1928, I suggest he consider perfect binding.

In the meantime, the book has had one unintended result. I have begun to re-read nineteenth century Irish poetry in search of references to bumblebees.